The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1887-08-18
MOUNT HOLLY.
THE GREAT GATHERING OF FAR.
MER8 AND CHANGERS.
An Assemblage Unpre cedented in North
CarOlina-.-TheD Displays Rather Mea-
gre, &c.
ISnAcia1 Cor ST CuRnNI6I

An Assemblage Unprecede nted in North
gre, &c.
Especial Cor. STATE CHRONICLE
Mt. HOLLY, N c., Aug. -, 1887. For
weeks past have no doubt numbers of
farmers, merchants, base ball clubs, and
in fact people of all sorts and all kinds of
occupations have been waiting with right
much impatience for this week to come, so
that all could go to the big eneampment.
Well, like everything else in this world, it
has come and gone This writer was one
of the crowd for three days, looking to see
what Was TO be seen and to hear what could
be heard
Mount Holly is small village, of about
$50 population q suppose). There are four
stores, cotton factory and hotel. l do
not suppose that there has ever been an
affair of this kind held in North Carolina
before, or ever will be again, as well ad
vertlsed as this, both at home and abroad.
The main object was to draw together
more farmers at one time in North Caro-
lima than had ever assembled at any one
place before in the State That idea was
fully carried out
Tuesday, the 9Th, was the opening day
and in company with Mr. W. G. Burkhead
landed at Mt. Holly in good time for
breakfast. There was not very large
crowd during the day and oweing to some
delay in the receipt of goods which were
10 be exhibited the day was pretty much
taken up i'll arranging everything. Gov.
Scales was to have made a speech Tues
day evening. but owing to sickness $50
heard) was not able to be present. Speeches
were made, however, by some prominent
gentlemen
adm dow Z ta ht1..i
nest. With note book and pencil | started
on IA tour. The first place which attract
ed my att'i'tion Was the building devoted
TO agricultural products. Mr.. John T.
Patrick had neglected nothing so far as
his department was concerned. Every
thing had place and everything was in
its place. The State exhibit was not only
subject of comment by visitors from
other States, but many were the remarks
of those of our own State expressive of
surpr Sc. There were z number of glass
cases, extending the full lenth of the build
ing, each case divided in small parti-
tiOns about 3y3 inches in which were the
different minerals, stones all kinds of ore
seeds of all kinds; in fact sample of most
everything found and grown in North
Carolina. In this department were some
fine chickens and ducks. Farmers from
various portions of the State had brought
bags Of seed wheat cats, corn, sc. Though
the exhibits ~ this department, so far as
quantity is concerned, was not altogether
what great many expected to see, | will
venture to say that the quality will be
hard to beat in any State.
Floral hall, | am sorry to say, except
the display from the McAden mills, in
CASTOR county, was rather bare. It seemed
to me that everything that could be woven
and spun was shown. There were 247 pat
terms of plaids, shawls, towels, counter
panes: bed spreads, &c. Mr.. MuAdun Was
on hand himself, dressed i'll suit of
clothes made from his mill. He Was very
clever and kind in answering the many
representation of a ship, erected on large
frame. 1t was full-szed and loaded with
goods. 1t would ride the waves very grace
fully, to the wonder of the many lockers
on. Mr.. Baker, of Charlotte, exhibited in
this department a piano. Mrs. Joe Person
was very accommodating and seemed
never to tire IN responding 10 tho numef-
Gus calls for music, assisted occasionally
by the two Messrs. Baker. Mrs. Person
had pyramid of her medicine on exhibit
ton. There was rather small display Of
Jelleys preserves, &c, some though looked
very nice.
IEoiC was SOlucWu VI a ti itlI III tiIt
amusement line. The base ball game We'd
club and tho Raleigh bays attracted d large
crowd. The teams We're unevenly
matched that it was not very interesting
The Raleigh boys We're all amateurs, while
Charlotte had four or five professionals,
and SO had but little trouble in walking
right away with our fellows. But if Char
lotte had only played amateurs it is very
likely the result would have been different
Just beyond the base ball grounds were
the tournament grounds, where lovers of
that sport had ample opportunity to enjoy
themselves. There were lemonade, ice
cream and other refreshment stands in
numbers.
The stock exhibit was exceedingly short,
but l was Informed by a gentleman that
there was not much stock expected
About five hundred yards from the rail
road, beyond the tent occupied by the
speakers and audience, where there was a
good shade, were camped about five hun
dred wagons, and it reminded me some
what of war times to see the white tents
here and there. | was told that each wag-
on contained on an average about i've OF
cupants, which would give $500 people
| regularly in camp. The question is always
asked when attending a big gathering of
any kind, how many are here! | asked a
good many who are accustomed to large
crowds this question, and the answer
would be from IL, 900 to Is, 600 during the
encampment.
The speaking and gathering of the Gran
gers was the main object of the affair.
The speaking according to programme was
| pretty nearly carried out each day. There
were from four to six speeches daily dur
ing the encampment, by prominent gentle
men from different parts of the State. 1t
would be useless for me to attempt to give
| the readers of the CHRONICLE each speech
as it was made. Time and space both for
| bid. There were so many speakers that
| it was necessary to divide the time so as
| to allow each from twenty minutes to an
| hour, according to his subject. Pretty
nearly everything that was said by the
speakers pertained to farming, and much
wholesome advice was given by men OF
ability who knew very we'll what they were
talking about. / have not heard single
person say that they heard poor speech
Friday evening was the time for the
meeting of the Grangers from all parts OF
the State Much business was transacted
and 1t was decided to hold the next State
Grange Encampment somewhere in the
eastern part of ths State, but the time
and place have not as yet been decided
upon. ii. b. ID.
| Getting Ready.
81 hear you are going to college thi